Diagnosing Belt Wear
The original equipment belts on late-model vehicles are made of synthetic materials and are far more heat-resistant and wear-resistant than older materials. These innovations mean serpentine belts may last up to 100,000 miles before they need to be replaced. If a belt fails sooner, you need to be a detective and investigate why it failed.
Tire Tread Wear: Causes And Symptoms
Tire tread wear can tell you a lot about a suspension. Most specifically, it can tell you if the angles, inflation and components are within specification. Here are the most common tread wear patterns and what causes them.
A4 Alignment Basics Tire Wear Tip Clip
In this short video clip from the A4 Suspension and Steering class, Delphi instructor Dave Hobbs discusses and shows some basic tips and knowledge to help you better diagnose alignment issues based on tire wear helping you more quickly and accurately use the alignment machine to put everything in spec.
UnderCover: Knowing Nivomats: Dissecting A Load Sensing Shock
The Nivomat system does more than just level the vehicle under load. As the load increases, the pressure inside the shock increases as oil is displaced from the reservoir to the inside of the unit, compressing the gas volume. This creates a progressive increase in spring rate and damping with little or no change to ride frequency.
Undercover: Getting a Charge out of Monotube Gas Shocks
From the outside, most shock absorbers and struts look pretty much alike: a round steel tube that telescopes up and down with bushings or fittings on both ends. But inside there can be significant design differences that affect not only the ride control characteristics and performance of the damper, but also its cost.
Undercover: The 10 Commandments of Shocks and Struts
Many things affect vehicles in motion, including its speed, road conditions, wind and weight distribution. Therefore, the vehicle suspension system — shocks, struts and springs — must be in good condition to handle these variables. Here are 10 tips to help you better service these components.
Shock Treatment
Adapted from Andrew Markel’s article in Brake & Front End
Audi Active Suspension Service
The key to servicing these systems is proper information and understanding precisely how these systems operate.
BMW Driveshaft Q&A
Here are the top questions technicians ask about BMW driveshafts.
Air Ride Conversion Kits
Air ride and active shocks and struts will eventually fail – succumbing to either damage to or dry rot of the air spring.
